Interview with Garrett Levey

We hear you have a concert tomorrow. What instrument do you play?
I play the violin.

How long have you been playing violin?
I’ve been playing for 11 years.

How many songs are you playing?
I’m playing one concerto.

How long have you been preparing for this concert?
I’ve been preparing since last summer.

So, the concert was supposed to be a little while ago, right?
Yeah, it was supposed to be the 21st, during the orchestra concert, but I got swine flu so I couldn’t perform then.

What song are you going to perform?
Mendelssohn’s violin concerto in e minor

Are you pursuing violin in college or is this it for you?
I may be minoring in music at U Rochester.

Where is the concert?
It’s at Longfellow Sports Club in Natick.

When?
Friday, the 12th at 7pm.

How long is the concerto?
It is about 13 minutes long.

What kind of preparation has gone into this? How often did you practice?
Well, I’ve been practicing weekly since last summer.

Did you have a tutor out of school?
Yes, Xin Ding, she is in the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

So, you practiced with her once a week?
Yeah, I practiced one hour each week with her, and about 30 minutes each day on my own.

Are you nervous for the performance?
Well, performers are always nervous on stage…. It’s just about how you manage it.